Captivating Alankaram at Mahabhishekam 2018

The annual reunion of the devotees of Mahasastha Ayyanar happened in large numbers this year on Tuesday, 4th September 2018, at Suraikayur, as planned for an elaborate and grand mahabhishekam.

Though there was some amount of water flowing in river Vettar and the canal close to the temple, the abundant rains recently in the Western ghats did not seem to have much impact on the river. Nonetheless, despite limited flow, the entire village was lush green. In fact the tank near the Sivan Kovil was half-full.

This year's abhishekam saw about 15 families present, though small in number, can be considered better than last year's attendance.

As usual, the proceedings included elaborate sankalpam,  homam, abhishekam, alankaram, archanai and deeparadhanai. Particularly remarkable and captivating was this year's chandana kappu and flower alankaram of the deity. I guess the Lord desired to show himself differently and beautiful to His devotees this year as He does uniquely every time.

May His blessings be with all His devotees always.

The event was followed by sumptuous and yummy prasadam consisting of panchamridam, rava pineapple-pomegranate kesari, potato fry, sambar rice and curd rice.

It is hoped that His devotees will assemble in larger numbers next year, particularly the second and third generation devotees who will be the torch bearers of the future. May Mahasastha Ayyanar enable this.

Photo taken of the event can be found in this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GiHHS6hbbiN7PLBk8

Photos from the Past 2007-08

Recently I was going through some of the old archived albums and stumbled upon photos shared by Sri Haritheerthan long ago.  Somehow these have not been shared.  Can't understand why I didn't do it before.  But they should have been.  Therefore I do it now.  After all, it is better to be late than never.  So here they are for everyone to see and to preserve for posterity too.

The photos cover the period June 2007 to August 2008.  They reflect the various stages in the renovation and reconstruction of the temple, additions of Vinayakar sannadhi and guesthouse, and most importantly consolidation of the temple land by erecting a boundary wall to demarcate its extent, to protect it from encroachment and to secure it for the future generations of devotees of the deity.  It covers a little over one year upto before the Kumbabhishekam of the temple on September 4, 2008.

Link to the album can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yo6RvpLPkE5vthiT9

Going through the photos one can easily understand the extraordinary efforts put-in by the Kumbhabhishekam Committee Members Sarva Sri R. Laxmi Ratan (late), A. Venkat, K.C. Radhakrishnan, S. Hari Theerthan and K. Narayanaswamy.  Words of praise and appreciation, though they don't seek, are rightfully due to them.  May Ayyanar bless them in their continuing efforts of self-less service to the temple.

Rescheduled - Mahabhishekam on Tuesday, 4th Sept 2018

Devotees may please take note that the 9th Mahabhishekam is rescheduled to Tuesday, 4th Sept 2018.

Subsequent to the blog post and WhatsApp messages conveying the date of event as Sunday, 2nd Sept 2018, several devotees have conveyed that the day happens to be Sri Gokulashtami and therefore wish to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna at home with their families.  The following Sunday, 9th happens to be Amavasai, which is not suitable either. Accordingly, considering the suggestions received for a change in date, the Mahabhishekam is rescheduled as given above.

Devotees may make travel plans accordingly to participate in this year's Mahabhishekam in larger numbers and seek the blessings of our Kuladeivam.

9th Mahabhishekam scheduled for Sunday, 2nd Sept 2018

The 9th annual Mahabhishekam of our kuladeivam, Mahasastha Ayyanar is scheduled to be held on Sunday, 2nd September 2018 at Suraikayur.  As usual, the program will begin with sankalpam of devotees, homam and abhishekam of the deities, followed by prasadam distribution.

This advance intimation is given so that devotees can make travel plans well in time, take part in the function and avail the blessings of our Lord.  Let us gather in large numbers with family.

Contributions to the trust account on this occasion are most welcome.

Urgent Need for Corpus Funds

Dear Devotees,

Greetings and best wishes to you and your family members for a Very Happy New Year 2018.  Let us collectively pray to our Kuladeivam at Suraikayur to keep our families in good health and with all blessings.

The purpose of this communication is to keep you informed of the financials of our temple.  Over a period of time, a small corpus has been created which is fetching a monthly interest of just about Rs 8,000/-.  As against this, the average monthly expenditure is about Rs 30,000/-.  This gap is at present being met by a handful of devotees.  

It is felt that there is an urgent need to increase the corpus as much as possible so that this gap can be met through increased monthly interest inflows.  As such, due to economic conditions in the financial market, the interest rates have diminished significantly.  Hence there is a need for a bigger corpus.  This has rather become an urgent necessity now to sustain the upkeep and maintenance of the temple in a way that there is no deterioration in the quality of experience that the devotees get while they visit for darshan.

To have a better understanding of the kind of expenses that get incurred every month, the following list of heads is provided below:

1. Salary to Kurukkal                         Rs 15,000
2. Salary to Watchman                             3,000
3. Salary to Utilities (electrician, etc)        1,000
4. Monthly provision                                 1,700
5. Electricity                                              2,000
6. Maintenance (cleaning, garden, etc)    3,000
7. Expenses at Mahabhishegam              5,000 (converted to per month)
8.                                        Total             30,700
9.                                        Or about Rs 30,000 p.m.

None of the above can be reduced any further and are as such at the barest minimum level.

There are around 200 families attached to the temple.  Thanks to the blessings of the Mahasastha Ayyanar and the blessings of our elders, all of us are financially doing much better than our earlier generations.  It would only be in the fitness of things that we repay our debt to the Lord in a way that when the time comes for the next generation to take over the maintenance of the temple, we can hand it over to them in a better state than what it was when we inherited it from our ancestors.

With this background, a suggestion is placed before all the devotees for their careful and most favourable consideration.  The idea is to build a corpus of at least Rs 20 lacs per annum for the next 2 to 3 years, or about Rs 60 lacs.  This will fetch a higher interest return, thereby bridge the present gap in income vs expenses.  To achieve this target, every family may consider contributing at least Rs 10,000 per annum.  

For most of the families, Rs 10,000 per annum may not be a big sum.  Devotees will appreciate that this, on an average, works to a mere Rs 833 per month and is much less than what it costs to dine in a restaurant with family these days or to go to a cinema to watch a movie.  Several families have their children living overseas and are better placed to pitch in higher.  In US dollar terms, Rs 10,000 translates to a little over $ 150.

While contributions, both big and small are welcome, devotees may please contribute as much as possible to help in tiding over the situation with ease.  

Since the year 2018 has just begun, this may be the best time of the year to make an annual commitment for the next three years, if not longer.

In case devotees have any other suggestion in mind to enhance the temple's corpus, they are most welcome to suggest.  But please also provide a workable plan for the same.  

Contributions to the corpus may be made to the following account:

     Bank Name   : State Bank of India

     A/c Title         : Suraikayur Charitable Trust

     Account No.  : 30436986822

     Branch           : Kilpauk

     IFSC Code     : SBIN0001853

It may be noted that contributions to the above account are eligible for deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Before concluding this post, there is one other aspect.  Devotees will recall that the last Kumbhabishekam of the temple was performed in a grand manner on 4th Sept 2008.  Come September this year, it will be the 10th anniversary of the event.  In two more years, the next Kumbhabishekam will become due as they are generally done in a cycle of 12 years.  Certainly by then, the Lord at Suraikayur will bless us all even more to renew our devotion and commitment to Him to enable us to pay back in bigger ways possible.

Warm regards.